I am disturbed and upset by the recent events in Libya. While I do not condone the film that, allegedly, sparked the new anti-American violence )I say “allegedly” because I kinda believe that the murderers of the American Ambassador and the other rioters were just looking for an excuse to get themselves into an anti-US slather in any case.

Man – these extremists are giving Islam a black eye around the world. I have no clue what can be done about this. Military intervention doesn’t work. Maybe a big sauna for extremists and all they hate! It si difficult to hate someone too much while in a sauna. Just sayin’…

I cemented my slightly left of centre bona fides by attending the Ottawa Folkfest last weekend and saw a good performance by Great Big Sea… and what was that herbal smell in the air? It seemed vaguely familiar…

Things I’m noting as I approach 50:
Little brother Rob at age 5 or so in 1978 – “I want Mommy to tuck me in.”
Son Owen in 2012: “Could you text Mommy and ask her to tuck me in. Or just put it on Facebook.”

Research conducted for FCM suggests that an additional $1 billion in new federal infrastructure investments, sustained over five years, would create:

more than 40,000 new jobs;

a 2.5% increase in construction sector employment; and

increased revenues to provincial/territorial and federal orders of government in the range of $1.2 to $2.7 billion.

And, specifically pertinent to Ontario and the City of Ottawa:

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario estimates an infrastructure gap of at least $60 billion that will take 10 years to close, leaving municipal governments with a bill of $6 billion each year.
Almost half of this gap exists within road and bridge infrastructure, with the remaining amounts occurring in other core infrastructure categories such as drinking water, wastewater, storm water, public transit and solid waste.

Ottawa’s municipal infrastructure assets are valued at $32 billion.

20% of Ottawa’s roads are between 20 to 40 years old, and 15% are more than 40 years old.

30% of City facilities are over 40 years old, and 40% are between 20 and 40 years old.

27% of Ottawa’s piped infrastructure is over 40 years of age; 50% is between 20 and 40 years old.

In short, there is a HUGE infrastructure deficit that is starting to catch up with cash-strapped municipalities. The 174 sinkhole is just one example, as was last year’s water main issue in the south end. Investment and innovative thinking is needed, folks. Maybe more P3’s will address some of the problems. But definitely some outside the box thinking is going to be needed by our leaders at all levels of government. And soon!

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Conservatives! They sometimes can’t spell the name of the riding that they are representing! Case in point: Kitchener-Conestoga MPP, Michael Harris.